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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1275 - Mar 30^th, 2011 at 5:25pm

Minister for Ports Denis Napthine today toured the Port of Hastings, the site of the Baillieu Government’s planned development of what will become Victoria’s newest container port.

Dr Napthine said the development of the Port of Hastings was critical for the future of the growing freight trade, an integral part of the Victorian economy, and a necessary step in maintaining the viability of the sector well beyond the next decade.

“Victoria cannot rely on one container port in Melbourne, as it is estimated that container throughput at the Port of Melbourne will quadruple over the next 25 years. With that comes more and more congestion in and around the port,” Dr Napthine said.

“The Baillieu Government is therefore committed to developing the Port of Hastings to relieve economic bottlenecks and congestion while also growing jobs in regional Victoria.

“The development will also provide an alternative container port to the Port of Melbourne, thus generating more competition and economic flow on benefits for all of Victoria.

“I have seen first-hand the potential for a new container port, and the deep water access and current operations at Hastings make it the best placed port for expansion in Victoria.

“The Baillieu Government is committed to developing the port and will introduce legislation in mid-2011 to create a new independent Port of Hastings development authority,” Dr Napthine said.

Member for Hastings Neale Burgess said the Baillieu Government is committed, through the new Authority, to conducting extensive consultations with the community, current and potential port users and all other stakeholders.

“Among the first tasks for the new authority will be to undertake economic, environmental and social impact assessments, and to prepare a detailed plan for the development,” Mr Burgess said.

“The redevelopment of the Port of Hastings will be a major boost for the region, generating thousands of jobs. It is therefore critical the planning is done responsibly and cooperatively with the local community.”

The Port of Hastings serves major international and domestic shipping trade that includes import and export of oil, LPG, ULP and steel. It has approximately 200 vessels visiting each year carrying petroleum, LPG and steel, amounting to five million tonnes of cargo.

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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1276 - Mar 30^th, 2011 at 5:25pm

Education Minister Martin Dixon today officially opened a major $5.62 million redevelopment project at Reservoir West Primary School.

Mr Dixon toured stages one and two of the project that provides a modern learning environment for Reservoir West students.

“It is fantastic to go out and see the exciting redevelopment work that has completely transformed Reservoir West Primary School,” Mr Dixon said.

“I am told the students were really excited to be returning to school this year to 12 brand new classrooms, a library and information and communications technology centre and a gymnasium with specialist facilities such as a music room, art room and canteen.

“It’s also a great outcome for the local community that can also enjoy using the brand new gym and music room, making Reservoir West Primary a real asset for the whole Reservoir community.

“I was impressed to see that two of the buildings have been named after significant people in the school community – particularly the Milburn Classroom Wing named after the late Gary Milburn, a former teacher at the school, and the W.E. Scott Library in honour of the school’s dedicated library technician Peter Scott.

“These new school buildings will provide a wonderful learning setting for current and future students and will help young people in Reservoir to realise their potential,” Mr Dixon said.

Reservoir West Primary School was established in 1954 and currently caters for an enrolment of 258 students.

The Victorian Government provided $4.36 million in funding for the project, with $1.16 million from the Commonwealth and almost $100,000 from the Reservoir West school community.

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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1277 - Mar 30^th, 2011 at 5:26pm

Minister for Community Services Mary Wooldridge today launched the Kids Under Cover Cubby House Challenge Village at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.

The Cubby House Challenge was initiated in 2009 by Kids Under Cover, a not-for-profit organisation that provides quality accommodation for young people who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless.

Ms Wooldridge said the Cubby House Challenge has attracted support from builders, architects and the community to build cubby houses which are then auctioned or raffled to raise funds for homeless services.

“The success of the Cubby House Challenge demonstrates the willingness of the business community to devote time and resources to assist homeless young people,” Ms Wooldridge said.

“There is no doubt that the 2011 cubby houses are beautifully crafted examples from some of the most innovative designers and builders in Victoria today.

“What is even more impressive is that proceeds from the sale of these cubby houses are going toward providing more housing for young people in need.”

Ms Wooldridge said the competition is fierce amongst participants and that no expense is spared in the race to see who can come up with the most innovative cubby house.

“Among the designs this year is a cubby house that glows in the dark, a milk bar made from plastic milk crates and an eco-friendly cubby made from compacted wheat and rice straw panels,” Ms Wooldridge said.

The cubby houses are on display at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show until 3 April 2011.

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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1278 - Mar 30^th, 2011 at 5:26pm

Melbourne streets and regional and rural communities will be made safer as 600 more police officers are allocated across the state by June 30.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Peter Ryan said the Coalition Government’s pledge to reverse the culture of violent crime and anti-social behaviour that pervaded our streets under Labor would see more frontline police protecting local communities.

“The allocation of more police across 46 Police Service Areas by June 30 is the first stage of the State Government’s commitment to deliver 1,700 more police over four years,” Mr Ryan said.

Mr Ryan said the Coalition had today also delivered on a key election commitment with the allocation of 100 additional police to the Transit Safety Division.

“Commuters can have more confidence riding the public transport network with a greater police presence on trains, trams and buses expected within weeks,” Mr Ryan said.

Mr Ryan said Victoria Police would continue to allocate more frontline police in metropolitan and regional communities as the Coalition Government delivered on its promise to better protect Victorian families.

“More police on the streets in Ballarat, Frankston, Brimbank, Latrobe and Casey, as well as other crime hotspots, is good news for Victorians,” Mr Ryan said.

“On Sunday I was at the Glen Waverley Police Academy to launch the latest recruitment drive to ensure Victoria Police has a regular intake of passionate, driven individuals who want to serve and protect their community.”

After 11 years of neglect by the former Labor Government, Victoria had the fewest frontline police per person and spent less on police resourcing per person than any other state in Australia.

“Our police do a remarkable job but under Labor, Victoria Police was chronically under-funded and police resources were stretched,” Mr Ryan said.

Mr Ryan said Victoria Police Command had allocated the 600 new frontline positions to the Police Service Areas based on priority needs.

“Of the 600 positions allocated, 450 will be new recruits while 150 officers will be redeployed to the front line,” Mr Ryan said.

The 600 new frontline positions will be allocated across four regions, with 140 to the North Western Metro region, 66 to the Eastern Region, 107 to the Southern Metro Region and 72 to the Western Region.

“Victoria Police is best placed to decide where to allocate these resources, based on their analysis of where the highest demand is for new members,” Mr Ryan said.

“The demand-based model that Victoria Police uses considers factors such as population, the crime to population ratio and the level of road accidents to population ratio.”

Mr Ryan said the allocation model formed part of Victoria Police’s Building Operational Capacity and Capability project, which would deploy the 1,700 new recruits effectively during the next four years.

“The project will be reviewed and tested every year to make sure resources are being allocated effectively and that they accurately reflect the demand for police services across the state.

“Although not every Police Service Area has received extra police under today’s allocation by Victoria Police, the Coalition’s promise of 1,700 new police recruits over four years will ensure all regional and rural communities benefit from the government’s commitment to make Victoria safer,” Mr Ryan said.

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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1279 - Mar 30^th, 2011 at 5:27pm

The Coalition Government today announced a $1.5 million contribution to the Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) Business Relief Fund that provides financial assistance to businesses affected by the recent floods.

Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business Louise Asher said the Coalition Government was committed to helping the thousands of affected businesses which have suffered both direct and indirectly from the impact of the floods.

“This assistance will help businesses which have not experienced the direct effect of flooding but have nonetheless been detrimentally impacted upon by road closures and decreased levels of visitation to the regions,” Ms Asher said.

Under the fund, businesses can apply for grants of up to $5,000 to assist in the recovery process.

The VECCI Business Relief Fund has been established by VECCI to provide financial assistance to businesses which have been indirectly affected as a result of a loss of trade due to the knock-on effect felt in directly affected and surrounding areas.

“The Coalition Government’s contribution will provide a significant boost to the fund which aims to provide much-needed support to businesses which have suffered as a result of perceptions that entire regions were closed for business during the flood events,” Ms Asher said.

The Coalition Government’s $1.5 million contribution to this fund is part of the government’s suite of initiatives to assist businesses to recover from the floods, including; $25,000 Clean Up and Restoration Grant for directly affected businesses, free small business advisory services to mentor businesses throughout the recovery process, and a $1 million tourism marketing campaign.

“As the business community continues to rebuild from the devastating impact of the floods, we are providing direct financial assistance, business support services and delivering new initiatives to increase visitation back to flood-affected regions through an extensive tourism marketing campaign,” Ms Asher said.

“This fund provides another level of support to businesses, along with the measures recently announced by the Premier, that will help communities affected by the devastating floods to recover,” Ms Asher said.

The VECCI Fund was established to support businesses that may not have been damaged by natural disasters (eg. floods) directly but have been indirectly affected in a significant way by their proximity to affected areas.

VECCI Chief Executive Officer Wayne Kayler-Thomson said the fund proved successful during the 2009 bushfire recovery process and the government’s contribution to the fund plays an important part in helping businesses adversely impacted on by natural disasters.

In addition to providing $120,000 to the fund, VECCI is extending free membership of VECCI for a period of twelve months to current non-members who apply for relief under the fund.

Businesses can apply for funding from the VECCI Business Relief Fund until 31 May 2011. Further information about the VECCI Business Relief Fund can be found at www.vecci.org.au/floods or at www.business.vic.gov.au

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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1280 - Mar 30^th, 2011 at 5:28pm

A share in more than $100,000, under the latest round of Victorian Coalition Government Volunteer Small Grants funding, will assist 25 organisations continue their important contribution to communities, Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan said today.

Mr Ryan said the new grants would help community-based programs support current volunteers and attract more good Samaritans.

“These small grants of up to $5,000 can make a big difference to community organisations, which in turn, improve the lives of many Victorians,” Mr Ryan said.

“The grants can be used for a variety of purposes such as volunteer training, development programs and equipment for a wide range of groups in both metropolitan and regional communities.

“Grants awarded in this round of funding range from a Pro-Teens Toolkit for young volunteers in public libraries, to weekly training sessions for volunteers helping new migrants with limited English language skills settle and even take their driving and citizenship tests.”

Mr Ryan said the Coalition Government highly valued the enormous contribution volunteers made to the broader community.

“Volunteering is vital to building strong communities. It not only improves the lives of others but also provides benefits to volunteers who can learn new skills, extend their networks and experience a sense of fulfilment through helping someone else,” Mr Ryan said.

“Research also shows people who volunteer often enjoy improved health and wellbeing.”

Mr Ryan said people interested in volunteering could find useful information and a range of volunteering opportunities at Victoria’s Volunteering Portal, www.volunteer.vic.gov.au

To apply for Victorian Volunteer Small Grants, please visit www.grants.dpcd.vic.gov.au

For more information about volunteering visit www.volunteer.vic.gov.au

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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1281 - Mar 30^th, 2011 at 7:03pm

Verge wrote on Mar 30^th, 2011 at 5:25pm:

Minister for Ports Denis Napthine today toured the Port of Hastings, the site of the Baillieu Government’s planned development of what will become Victoria’s newest container port.

A LABOR project

Quote:

FUTURE BRIGHT FOR THE PORT OF HASTINGS
From the Minister for Roads & Ports
Monday, 31 August 2009

The Port of Hastings has been reaffirmed as Victoria’s alternate international container port, with management of its future development to be integrated with the Port of Melbourne to ensure a prosperous future for the port and the region.

Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas was in Hastings today for the local launch of the Brumby Labor Government’s Port Futures strategy and to provide an update on the Port of Hastings Port Land Use and Transport Strategy (PLUTS).

Mr Pallas said Hastings was recognised as a vital part of the future of Victoria’s ports system and was already well established as one of four major commercial ports.

“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to develop Victoria’s ports, securing thousands of jobs, boosting the economy and building for our state’s future,” he said.

http://archive.premier.vic.gov.au/newsroom/7997.html

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buzzanddidj Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 14169 Eganstown, via Daylesford, VIC Gender:	Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n Reply #1282 - Mar 30^th, 2011 at 7:10pm Verge wrote on Mar 30^th, 2011 at 5:25pm: Education Minister Martin Dixon today officially opened a major $5.62 million redevelopment project at Reservoir West Primary School. Another LABOR project http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/publications/budget/08budgetcapital.htm
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buzzanddidj

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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1283 - Mar 30^th, 2011 at 7:13pm

Verge wrote on Mar 30^th, 2011 at 5:26pm:

Minister for Community Services Mary Wooldridge today launched the Kids Under Cover Cubby House Challenge Village at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.

The Cubby House Challenge was initiated in 2009 by Kids Under Cover, a not-for-profit organisation that provides quality accommodation for young people who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless.

Victorian Coalition - the Ribbon Cutting Party

( ... and basking in the glory of successes they've made NO CONTRIBUTION to)

450 of these "new police on the beat" are graduates from intakes under the LABOR Government

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« Last Edit: Mar 30^th, 2011 at 7:20pm by buzzanddidj »

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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1284 - Apr 3^rd, 2011 at 7:38pm

This is how to spin it - Ted Baillieu style

Sunday Herald Sun
April 03, 2011

Trust me ...

PREMIER Ted Baillieu's pledge to lead a spin-free Victorian Government has been undermined by the release of a secret briefing note instructing ministers what to say and how to behave in State Parliament.

A Baillieu Government document obtained by the Sunday Herald Sun shows Cabinet ministers are being ordered to follow a robotic formula to avoid embarrassment in Question Time.

The internal document reveals how ministers are prepped for Parliament to avoid tripping up.

The strict rules - sent to at least five ministers as a blueprint for Possible Parliamentary Questions or "PPQs" - dictate how they should answer inquiries.

They state "the first speaking point should be positive". Responses should be capped to "no more than three or four suggested points".

It suggests information given to ministers should be "up-to-date and does not conflict in any way with previously published information, other briefings, or information being provided to the minister".

And it instructs advisers giving ministers "suggested points" to help answer questions make them "sharp, clear and concise - keep them short."

The document offers a rare snapshot of how stage-managed state politics can be.

In his first press conference after his election win last November, Mr Baillieu said:

"There will be no hidden agenda, no spin, no secrecy. Accountability and transparency will be the principles that underpin our government."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/this-is-how-to-spin-it-in-state-gover...

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« Last Edit: Apr 4^th, 2011 at 12:56am by buzzanddidj »

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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1285 - Apr 3^rd, 2011 at 7:57pm

The Herald Sun called repeatedly on the former Labor government to fix the faults in the system after our investigations revealed welfare agencies and police failed to protect a girl who was raped by her father and who gave birth to four children

.

Other cases showed children were being abused by their drug-addicted carers and that child protection workers were overwhelmed and suffering from stress.

But who can explain the decision to abandon a child in a lonely park because he did not want to be returned to the DHS accommodation where he was living?

This is beyond any sense of reality.

The two workers who phoned their supervisor to ask what they should do were allegedly told to leave the boy because it was too dangerous for anyone to stay with him.

What about the boy? And why is the supervisor still in a job when the protection workers have been stood down?

Failures in the child protection system in Victoria are deep-seated and long-standing and for the Labor Opposition to call for a government review to be speeded up is hypocrisy at its worst.

The Opposition says the system failed the child, which is obvious, but it is the former Labor government that had years to put it right.Children in care are the most vulnerable people in the community. Labor failed to help them. Premier Ted Baillieu must stand up for them.

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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1286 - Apr 3^rd, 2011 at 8:20pm

Just to fill in the gaps ...

Libs must fix appalling child scandal

Editorial From: Herald Sun
April 01, 2011 12:00AM

THE decision by child protection workers to leave a nine-year-old boy alone in a suburban park at night beggars belief.
It was an appalling lack of judgment that could have resulted in a tragedy had the boy not been seen by a passerby who called police.

What is not surprising is that it is another failure by child protection workers, this time employed by an agency accredited by the Department of Human Services.

Other cases showed children were being abused by their drug-addicted carers and that child protection workers were overwhelmed and suffering from stress

But who can explain the decision to abandon a child in a lonely park because he did not want to be returned to the DHS accommodation where he was living?

This is beyond any sense of reality.

The two workers who phoned their supervisor to ask what they should do were allegedly told to leave the boy because it was too dangerous for anyone to stay with him.

What about the boy?

And why is the supervisor still in a job when the protection workers have been stood down?

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/editorials/fix-appalling-child-scandal/story...

Police and the Department of Human Services (DHS) are investigating two social workers, who were employed by a community organisation, after they left the boy at a suburban Melbourne park on the night of

February 26, 2011

It is expected Mr Baillieu will announce a review, in the coming days, to see if an inquiry is warranted

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« Last Edit: Apr 3^rd, 2011 at 8:33pm by buzzanddidj »

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Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.'

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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1287 - Apr 3^rd, 2011 at 8:39pm

Failures in the child protection system in Victoria are deep-seated and long-standing and for the Labor Opposition to call for a government review to be speeded up is hypocrisy at its worst.

The Opposition says the system failed the child, which is obvious,[size=20]

but it is the former Labor government that had years to put it right.[/size

]

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buzzanddidj

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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1288 - Apr 3^rd, 2011 at 11:47pm

nichy wrote on Apr 3^rd, 2011 at 8:39pm:

Failures in the child protection system in Victoria are deep-seated and long-standing and for the Labor Opposition to call for a government review to be speeded up is hypocrisy at its worst.

The Opposition says the system failed the child, which is obvious,[size=20]

but it is the former Labor government that had years to put it right.[/size

]

To quote "the usual apologists" - the GOVERNMENT is in charge now

Do they HAVE a policy, to address this "situation"

(or another "review" ?)

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« Last Edit: Apr 3^rd, 2011 at 11:54pm by buzzanddidj »

'I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.
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Re: Baillieu: "We Can Do Better" (or maybe n
Reply #1289 - Apr 4^th, 2011 at 7:30am

EXPLOSIVE leaked documents reveal the Baillieu Coalition secretly abandoned key plans to slash hospital waiting lists, redevelop hospitals and halve ambulance queues just weeks before the state election.

In three hours on October 12, a Coalition razor gang abandoned many of its best intentions, spelled out in drafts of the Liberal-Nationals Coalition Plan for Health that it prepared for last year's election but never released.

The blueprints seen by the Herald Sun show the Government also planned to delay funding for the state's biggest hospital developments - with less than a quarter of the funds needed for the new Monash Children's and Royal Victorian Eye and Ear hospitals to be handed over in its first term.

In later changes the Coalition slashed its health plan further, dumping a proposal to cut waiting lists by 20,000 over the next two years and watering down a $100 million list overhaul

.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/how-ted-baillieu-sliced-health-plan/s...

Other policies the Coalition walked away from include:

A MAXIMUM waiting time of no more than 26 weeks for 90 per cent of outpatient appointments.

DUMPED

PAYING live kidney donors up to $8000 for the financial burden of offering organs.

DUMPED

NEW category of ambulance officer know as a "paramedic practitioner", with 20 to be re-trained in four years.

DUMPED

METROPOLITAN emergency care at Sunbury.

DUMPED

AFTER hours care at Phillip Island.

DUMPED

A TASKFORCE to halve ambulance ramping.

DUMPED

Barely enough funding to begin the earliest stages of the much needed Monash Children's Hospital will be provided in the first term of the Baillieu Government, with the bulk of the money listed as "remaining expenditure" after July 2015 if it regains office, according to the secret draft.

Only $40 million of the $165 million needed for the Royal Eye and Ear Hospital redevelopment has been allocated over the next four years.

But those projects faired better than the Olivia Newton John Cancer Centre, which missed consideration in the drafts and final election announcements.

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'I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.
Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.'

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